The three ways to restart your computer

A restart clears your computer's memory, closes all running programs, and often fixes freezing, slowness, or programs that won't respond. You have three options: a normal restart through the menu, a forced restart when the computer won't respond, or a hard shutdown as a last resort. Most of the time, the normal menu restart works and takes about two minutes from start to finish.

Which method you use depends on whether your computer is still responding to clicks and keyboard commands. If it is responding, use the menu restart. If it is frozen and won't respond to anything, use the forced restart. A hard shutdown—holding the power button until the screen goes black—should only happen if the forced restart does not work.

Key Takeaways

  • A normal restart through the Start menu or Apple menu takes about two minutes and is the safest option when your computer is still responding.
  • A forced restart using keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl+Alt+Delete on Windows, Command+Control+Power on Mac) works when your screen is frozen but the computer is still running.
  • A hard shutdown by holding the power button for 10 seconds should only be used if keyboard shortcuts do not work.
  • After any restart, wait for all startup programs to finish loading before opening new programs, which usually takes 30 to 60 seconds.

Normal restart on Windows

If your computer is responding to clicks and keyboard commands, use the normal restart method. Click the Start button in the bottom left corner of your screen. A menu will open showing a power icon—it looks like a circle with a line at the top. Click that icon.

A second menu will appear with three options: Sleep, Shut Down, and Restart. Click Restart. Your screen will go black, and you will see a message saying "Restarting" or "Shutting down." Do not turn off the power or unplug the computer during this time. The restart usually takes 30 to 90 seconds, and then your desktop will reappear with all your icons and taskbar back in place.

Normal restart on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of your screen—it looks like an apple symbol. A dropdown menu will open. Look for the option that says "Restart" and click it. A dialog box will appear asking you to confirm. Click the "Restart" button in that box.

Your screen will go black or show a startup screen. Do not force shut down or unplug the computer. The restart usually takes 30 to 90 seconds. Your Mac will then boot back up and show your login screen or desktop, depending on your settings.

Forced restart when your screen is frozen

If your screen is frozen and you cannot click anything or type normally, try a forced restart using keyboard shortcuts. On Windows, hold down Ctrl, Alt, and Delete at the same time. Keep holding all three keys for about two seconds. A blue screen will appear with several options at the top.

Look for the power icon in the bottom right corner of that blue screen. Click it. A menu will appear with Restart and Shut Down options. Click Restart. Your computer will restart even though the normal menu was not responding. This usually takes 30 to 90 seconds.

On Mac, hold down Command, Control, and the Power button at the same time. Keep holding for about two seconds until your screen goes black. Your Mac will restart automatically. This keyboard shortcut forces a restart without showing any dialog boxes.

Hard shutdown as a last resort

If your screen is completely frozen and the keyboard shortcuts above did not work, you can force a shutdown by holding the power button. Locate the power button on your computer—on a desktop, it is usually on the front of the tower; on a laptop, it is on the side or back of the keyboard area.

Press and hold the power button for 10 to 15 seconds without releasing. Your screen will go black, and the computer will shut down completely. Wait 10 seconds, then press the power button once to turn it back on. This method is harder on your computer than a normal restart, so only use it if the keyboard shortcuts do not work.

What to do after the restart

Once your desktop reappears, wait 30 to 60 seconds before opening programs or files. During this time, your computer is loading startup programs and checking for updates. If you open programs too quickly, the restart may not have fully fixed the problem, and you might experience slowness again.

If the same program was frozen before the restart, try opening it again. If it freezes a second time, the problem may be with that specific program rather than your whole computer. You can then uninstall and reinstall that program, or search online for known issues with that software.

Common mistakes to avoid

Do not unplug your computer or hold the power button during a normal or forced restart. Pulling the power cord interrupts the shutdown process and can damage files or the hard drive. Always wait for the screen to go black and the computer to fully shut down before doing anything else.

Do not restart your computer repeatedly if the problem keeps happening. If your computer freezes every time you open a certain program, the issue is likely with that program, not your computer. If it freezes randomly throughout the day, you may have too many programs running at once, or a virus scan might be needed. Restarting helps once or twice, but repeated freezing points to a deeper problem that a restart alone cannot fix.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will restarting my computer delete my files?

No. A restart closes all open programs and clears the computer's memory, but it does not delete any files on your hard drive. Any document you were working on will still be there after the restart, though you may lose any unsaved changes to that document.

How often should I restart my computer?

Most computers work best with a restart once a week or once every two weeks. If your computer is running slowly or programs are freezing, a restart usually helps. You do not need to restart every day unless you are experiencing problems.

What is the difference between restart and shut down?

A shut down turns your computer completely off. A restart turns it off and then when ready turns it back on. A restart clears the computer's memory and reloads all programs, which is why it fixes freezing and slowness. A shut down just turns the machine off, so you have to turn it back on manually.

Can I restart my computer while it is updating?

No. If your computer is installing a Windows or Mac update, let it finish before restarting. Interrupting an update can damage your operating system. If an update is taking longer than an hour, restart your computer using the hard shutdown method, then check for updates again.

Why does my computer freeze again right after I restart it?

If freezing happens again within minutes of a restart, the problem is likely not fixed by restarting alone. This can mean a program is crashing, your hard drive is failing, or you have a virus. Try opening programs one at a time to see which one causes the freeze, or run a virus scan using your antivirus software.